The Premier League is finally back. It has been a long three month hiatus. We have seen the lack of fans in Germany and there has been a drop off in teams winning at home.
Without the fans in the stadiums, will we see plenty of teams’ form drop off without the noise from their fans? Here are three teams that I feel will suffer the most from a lack of fans.
Sheffield United
Sheffield United have been this season’s surprise package. The Blades currently lie in seventh place with 43 points and lie five points behind fourth place Chelsea with a game in hand.
They are also four points behind fifth place Manchester United which is a place in the table, provided Manchester City’s European ban remains, that would mean a Champions League spot.
Chris Wilder’s men have really taken to the Premier League in their first season in the top flight since 2006-07. They have been helped massively by their brilliant fan base.
Without the noise of their fans as well as the three month break, will Sheffield United have the same impact without the support of the fan base? Will they be able to get back to the form they showed before the suspension of the Premier League?
Unfortunately, I feel that their form will drop off and unfortunately Sheffield United will end up finishing mid table and missing out on a European spot altogether.
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolves have had a brilliant last few years. Promotion to the Premier League in 17-18 was followed with gaining European Football in their first season back. They now sit in sixth position and just five points off fourth place.
They are also currently in the round of 16 in the Europa League against Olympiacos and with an away goal in the first leg 1-1 draw in Greece, the Midlands side have a good chance of making the quarter final.
Now with the three month break, will Wolves get back into their stride? Wolverhampton have not lost a game in the Premier League since their 2-1 defeat to champions elect Liverpool, one of the biggest tests provided to Liverpool this season.
Wolves were looking on the verge of creating some history for the club. If they can get back to the form they showed pre-lockdown, then they will be a good bet for getting Champions League football. If not then we could see the same fate happen to them as we could see above with Sheffield United.
Overall, i feel that Wolves could genuinely have got that fifth place finish and gone far in the Europa League. However, i feel that the rust will kick in and Wolves will get Europa League football but will bow out in the Europa League quarter finals and miss out on Champions League football.
Liverpool
Liverpool fans such as myself are very glad to have football back and not have the season Null and Voided.
However, Liverpool are going to suffer for every reason possible except winning the league.
Liverpool just need two wins from their remaining Premier League games to be crowned champions. It would take the mightiest of collapses for the Reds not to win the Premier League for the first time.
However there are small details that are going to be affected by Covid-19. Liverpool were on course to become the earliest league winners in Premier League history but now will be crowned the latest Premier League winners.
Liverpool could still break the single season Premier League points tally but with the rust and fear of injury that is sure to kick in, that could go one of two ways.
Liverpool will either cruise to games due to the sheer excellence of the playing and coaching staff or Liverpool will be rusty and take a few games to get into their groove and ultimately not break that record.
However, the biggest issue that has been caused by the virus is the fact that Liverpool fans like myself, who have been dreaming of this all our lives, will not get to see the team lift the trophy in a sold out Anfield. Instead, it will be lifted in an empty stadium.
Overall , even though it will be a shame to see no fans when my team win the league for the first time in thirty years and the first time in my lifetime, the trophy could be lifted in Jordan Henderson’s back garden and I wouldnt mind.
It has been such a long time, noone will mind whether it is lifted in Anfield, Goodison Park or the local Tesco as the wait has been that long. It does however bring a sadness that Anfield doesnt get that day that we have been waiting thirty years with all the fans there.
Klopp has already mentioned it being brought to fans once lockdown ends but doing that mid season when the league was won months ago is not the same as end of season when the team has just been crowned champions.
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